of DeSoto Parish Louisiana
Thomas & Josephine Washington Family Reunion
We give honor to George & Jane Washington
Parents of Thomas Washington (Papa Tom)
We are still family....
A legacy can be understood as leaving something of yourself behind. To that end Papa Tom and Momma Josephine as they were affectionately known were married in 1890. This was truly a difficult time for a black man in a country struggling to give identity to a disenfranchised race of people.
To this union 10 boys and 6 girls were born. The 3 oldest boys died at young ages leaving 13 children who all lived well into their adult years.
They lived in Grand Cane, Louisiana on a farm that they leased. Papa Tom was an overseer of a cotton plantation. He rode his horse proudly making sure that the seeds were planted and that the cotton was being picked, while Mama Josephine was busy loving and taking care of her babies.
They named their children after one another and there was great meaning behind the names chosen. They all grew up in Louisiana and in later years some moved away to California, Michigan and Texas.
Momma Josephine passed away at the age of 57, and Papa Tom later got remarried to Florida. But he never stopped encouraging his family to stay in touch with each other by going to Flower Hill Baptist Church every Sunday. He also had family Bar-B-Que's at his house and at the houses of some of his children.
Many years after Papa Tom passed his granddaughter, Roberta Black had a strong desire to keep the Thomas and Josephine's legacy alive, (We Are A Family).
Roberta formed a committee of two co-founders, minister, secretary, treasurer, and contact members. They formed the first offical reunion and named it the "Washington Family Reunion." The first WFR was held in memory of Thomas and Josephine Washington Legacy in 1980 in Shreveport, Louisiana.
So what Papa Tom did all those many years ago we continue to honor to this present day. And although there have been many ups and downs in this large family we honor the legacy because Papa Tom always wanted his family to remember that, "We Are Still A Family. “
Thomas Washington
Born: March 6, 1869
Died: April 28, 1946
77 years
Josephine Washington
Born: March 25, 1873
Died: November 3, 1930
57 years
WFR FOUNDER:
Roberta Black (Mary Jane)
WFR CO-FOUNDERS:
Mary Bell Johnson (Lillie) & Mary Graham (Luella)
WFR PAST PRESIDENTS:
RC Washington Jr. (RC)
Kathy Faye McCowan (Luella)
Clinton Buggs (Viola's Husband - Luella's daughter)
Anne Salone (John)
Ann Green (Lillie)
Morris Lee (Luella)
Charlesetta Green (Mitchell)
Thank you to our trailblazers and those who continue to be torch bearers!
Granddaughter of Mitchell Washington
Granddaughter of Mitchell Washington
Granddaughter of Mitchell Washington
Granddaughter of Billy Reese Washington
Grandson of Robert "RC" Washington
Son of Turner & Lillie Bell Washington Sr.
Daughter of Lillie Washington Green
Daughter of Mitchell Washington
Son of Mitchell Washington